Queensland political editor

Former housing minister Bruce Flegg told a parliamentary committee he's aware of government ministers who walk away from meetings with stakeholders once they learn a lobbyist is involved.

Dr Flegg, who joked he had "more reason than most to contemplate" issues being discussed in a parliamentary committee meeting by Integrity Commissioner David Solomon, said ministers were avoiding meeting with lobbyists; contextually, to avoid the problems which plagued Dr Flegg and, more recently, Arts Minister Ros Bates.

"I am aware now that there are ministers, who, as soon as a lobbyist is involved will simply refuse to meet a stakeholder," Dr Flegg said.

"And quite frankly, were I still in the ministry, I would probably take that approach and I am aware of ministers who are now taking that approach, because it is so messy."

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Dr Flegg stood down from the ministry in November after questions were raised about interactions between his son Jonathon Flegg, formerly of government relations firm Rowland, and Dr Flegg's office.

Dr Solomon was updating the committee on the Integrity Commission's progress in creating a new code of conduct for lobbyists, which the commission will only be able to impose on registered lobbyists, estimated to account for just 20 per cent of lobbying activity.

Dr Flegg called the current situation a "circus".

"Unless we clean up this current mess, I think we are just going to see people trying to influence governments in different ways," Dr Flegg said.

Under the draft amendments to the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct, registered lobbyists will be required to provide details of their lobbying contact with government representatives every month, to enter the information directly onto a page in the Integrity Commissioner's website, include information such as the date of the contact, name of the client, lobbyists present, government representative and the registered lobbyer themselves, as well as the purpose of the contact and brief description of the main issues.

That information will be "generally accessible" on the Integrity Commission's website.

Government ministers will release their diaries every month, predicted to be by the end of the following month.

Dr Solomon told the committee he believed registered lobbyists would be put under a burden he considered to be "fairly minor" by the disclosure, but that unregistered and exempt lobbyists; such as "in-house lobbyists" and industry groups, would be "caught in ministerial diaries".

"The new system of the ministers disclosing their contacts with the others who lobby will in fact even the playing field," Dr Solomon said.

"The public will have knowledge of at least some of that 80 per cent in least in relation to ministers."

However Dr Solomon said the new system would not be perfect.

"That is not going to catch people who are just dealing with ministers' offices or with the departments, but at least it is a step in the right direction," he said.

"If the government were to adopt a policy that ministers and their offices and their department will not see any lobbyist, whether they are registered or not, unless they subscribe to the code of conduct, that would also be a huge contribution to making the whole system much more open. And that is a proposal that I think should be considered by the government. I can't do it myself, I can't impose the code on anyone, except registered lobbyists."

The new code of conduct will still have limitations.

Dr Solomon said there was nothing to stop lobbyists from marking the meeting as "commercial in confidence" which would mean they would not have to expand on the meeting's detail.

The code will also only be concerned with the definition of lobbying; that lobbying is contact with government representatives in an effort to influence government decision-making and does not take into account any perceived lobbying - that is, contact or meeting with lobbyists, where lobbying is not discussed.

Arranging, changing or cancelling a lobbying meeting or meetings where no lobbying, as defined by the code's definition, occurred, will not be considered lobbying.

In effect, a lobbyist could arrange for government representatives to meet with industry stakeholders, but it would only be considered lobbying if actual government lobbying took place at the meeting; arranging to be at the meeting would not be considered lobbying.

The Finance and Administration Committee will meet again on March 6. The Integrity Commission hopes to have the new code in place by April 1.

12 comments

A code of conduct wouldn't be required if politicians behavd according to old fashioned personal values such as honesty and morality, in an ethical integral manner. Unfortunately they seem to be about what they can get away with by only applying the letter, not the spirit, of the law. Can we have pollies who don't have their snout in the trough, act actively for the present and the future (longer than the next election), speak plainly without spin (another word for mis-truths) and have the publics' best interest at heart.

Commenter

piried

Location

Aspley

Date and time

February 13, 2013, 1:01PM

Yeesh, at least make the pretense that they are trying to be honest. Honestly, a Code of Conduct, Kryptonite to lobbyists, as that would open them up to charges, criminal or otherwise. And here the truth would have to be told by the lobbyists and politicians, never seen that happen before.

Commenter

wdawes

Date and time

February 13, 2013, 1:04PM

This is good news. The media focus has obviously having a positive effect. Keep up the concentration. These fools cannot be trusted.

Commenter

CrustyPete

Date and time

February 13, 2013, 1:12PM

Sounds like they just asked the B.A.G. to write a new law exempting ministers from any responsibility to uphold even the most basic moral values. Utter contempt for the electorate is all they have.

Commenter

Citizen X

Date and time

February 13, 2013, 1:33PM

Good heavens they'll be listening to their electorate next. Worlds gone mad.

Commenter

Mr Pod

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

February 13, 2013, 1:53PM

Check out the Smoke Signals if you will, at the current rate El Pancho's Posse is abandoning ship, Fleggo's days a`doctorin Saddle Sores could soon be terminal.

Commenter

Geronimo

Location

Yippee Yi Yo

Date and time

February 13, 2013, 2:52PM

Good, get rid of Lobbyists all together. They serve the interests of large corporations at the expense of us, the consituents and good policy. All they do is corrupt the integrity of our political system. The less politicians are held to ransom by lobby groups, the more we can expect good governance and quality policy discussion and development. Keep the pressure on - it's about time politicians were held to account for the vested interests they serve and profit from.

Commenter

Josie

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

February 13, 2013, 2:57PM

"Former housing minister Bruce Flegg told a parliamentary committee he's aware of government ministers who walk away from meetings with stakeholders once they learn a lobbyist is involved."

Except Ros Bates, apparently.

Commenter

Grant

Date and time

February 13, 2013, 3:18PM

So, Flegg seems to think his conduct whilst holding the position of a Minister in the LNP Government is a laughing matter and that he believes that what he has been involved with is a circus! I’m sure many Queenslanders would agree with that too! The only thing that appeared to plague Flegg whilst he was a Minister was possibly his ethical behavior. It could be that the outcome of the current situation with his ex-staffer is set to reveal the true extent of Flegg’s ethics! Time will tell the full story eventually meanwhile can Flegg now be really trusted about anything?

Commenter

Barry Anthony

Location

Moggill

Date and time

February 13, 2013, 3:54PM

So, Flegg seems to think his conduct whilst holding the position of a Minister in the LNP Government is a laughing matter and that he believes that what he has been involved with is a circus! I’m sure many Queenslanders would agree with that too! The only thing that appeared to plague Flegg whilst he was a Minister was possibly his ethical behavior. It could be that the outcome of the current situation with his ex-staffer is set to reveal the true extent of Flegg’s ethics! Time will tell the full story eventually meanwhile can Flegg now be really trusted about anything?